Clearance lamp



April 8, 1958 H. BUCK 2,830,171

CLEARANCE LAMP Filed Nov. 18, 1955 INVENTOR. I W 5 4 6, ATTORNEY United at s atent() corporationof Canada g p t, 1 Application v t es; 13,1955, Serial Nor 547,789

implants. l (C1- fi m- .2)

include a metal base or housing which may be riveted 2,830,171 Patented Apr. 8, 195 8 ICC at a flat at the outer end of the lens forming a clear light or otherwise secured to a metal supporting bracket mounted on'a support surface of the vehicle.- This base contains the usual bayonet type lamp socket having a oneconductor cord connected to the lamp control switch, the socket being grounded through the metal base and the support means. 7 1

The base or housing has an pen outer end formed with a seating surface for the lens of the lamp, a compressible gasket usually being inserted between the lens and its seat. The lens, which is usually glass but may be made of plastic'coniposition material, is held in position V and moisture; As a result, the inner surface of thelens rapidly becomes dirty and cloudy, sharply reducing the transmitted light. The necessity for frequently removing the lens for cleaning'accelerates deterioration of the lamp.

In accordance with the present invention, an inexpensive, simply assembled, weatherproof signal lamp is provided by molding both the base and lens of plastic composition material in such a manner that the two parts are engageable by a snap fit providing an effective weatherproof and shockproof seal for the lamp. The base is constructed to be relatively firm yet somewhat flexible or elastic and is formed with an internal tubular boss receiving the lamp socket. The latter has an inturned annular base flange aligned with a hole in the inner end of the base, and a tubular rivet is inserted through the flange, the hole in the lamp base, and'an aperture in the mounting bracket. When the rivet ends are peened over, the base is efiectively metallically grounded to the support bracket. The usual assembly of single conductor cord, dielectric washer, and coil spring is mounted in the socket.

The outer end ofthe base has an angular peripheral flange forming a seat for the lens. The'lens has an outwardly extending 'rim or flange seating tightly in the angular flange and snapping beneath an inner rib on the end of the outer wall of the angular flange. The slight flexibility or elasticity of the base permits such snap-in mounting of the lens while assuring a tight weatherproof seal between the base and lens. 7

The lens is desirably formed with converging ribs on its inner surface to retract the light, these ribs terminating mounting fastener means.

transmitting area.

While the mounting bracket is of metal, this does not detract from the life of the lamp as the only other exposed connection is the tubular rivet which may be of a corrosion-resistant metal such as copper, brass, or a suitable alloy. However, the mounting bracket may be molded of rigid or internally reinforced plastic composition material and thegrounding connection established by a printed metallic'circuit connecting the rivet to the bracket For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation view of one form of lam embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lamp; 1 Fig. 3 is a front elevation view of the lamp with the lens and bulb removed;

Fig. 4 is arear elevation view of the lamp with a plastic mounting bracket; and

Fig. 5 is a top elevation view of the lamp of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lamp 10 embodying the invention is illustrated as comprising a base 20 and materials the base being preferably of polyethylene and the lens being preferably of polystyrene. Lamp 10 is supported on a fender 11, or other supporting surface of a vehicle, by a metal angle bracket 15 secured to base 20 ina manner described more fully hereinafter." Bolt and nut assemblies 16, or other suitable fastening means such as rivets, secure bracket 15 to fender 11 and ground the bracket to the fender. I

7 Base 20 which is preferably opaque is molded of apolyethylene or like resin so as to be relatively firm but'yet' somewhat flexible or elastic. The base is generally hemispherical in form and has an outwardly extending peripheral fl-a'nge 21 which is angular in cross-section to form a seat for coveror lens 30. An axially inwardly extending cylindrical or tubular boss 25 is molded in base 20 in alignment with an opening 23 in the rear end of the base. Radial reinforcing webs 24 extend-between boss 25 and the inner surface of the base. The base 20 may be made opaque or translucent, and may be colored I "relation in flange 21, it being noted that the height of flange 31 is somewhat less than the height of lip 26, which by ribs 32 molded on the inner surface of lens 30 and. converging to a flat 33 forming a clear light transmitting spot.

35 fitting snugly thereinto. Socket 35 has a cylindrical, outwardly opening side wall 36, formed with bayonet slots 37, and an inturned base flange 3-8. A hollow rivet 12 is inserted through a hole in upright arm 17 of bracket 15, through opening 23 in base 20, and through base Boss 25 forms a seat for a bayonet type lamp socket' flanges 1 f socketfiS. Rivet 12 is peened over at each nd 1.0 onnectsockeL35 .metallically oxhta ket i 4 Socket 35 contains the usual contact assembly including an insulated wire 40 extending through rivet 12, a

c il springfl, and d e ectri w sh 42,:th ir inn rz d.

tendingbetween said bossand the wall of said base and integral therewith; a metal lamp socket mounted in said base and including" an outwardly opening cylindrical member having an apertured base at its inner end, an annular dielectric washer, a conductor extending through said washer and headed on its outer end to form a center lamp contact, and a coil spring between said apertured base and said washer around-said conductor; a relatively rig-id mounting bracket formed-'to provide a metallic cup shape base and'socket to, said bracketand metallica'lly Th s and ove ft ei nn re1 ier pe s vc y n xp iti usly ,rnolded of Pl Q I PQ IiQI 41 a terials of the class and character gheretoiore specified.

Socket 35, and its internals, are readily assembled in ,boss of base 20 and the socket and base secured to bracket 15 by tubular rivet 12. Assembly is completed gby2in-' serting bulb 45 in socket 35 and snapping -rib,'31- of lens into flange 21 of base 20, ,i nturned ,rib 27 releasably locking the lens andbase'to each Other It is within the contemplation of the invention to iurther reducethecost of the ;lamp assembly .by molding thesupport {bracket of relatively ,rigid plastic composition'material. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, angle bracket 1-15 is molded of such material andthe ground connection for lamp 10 is provided by a printed metallic ,circuitq100 on bracket 115; Circuit 100 can be imprinted'on bracket 7 115 by any of the known techniques, and is so -disposed that it is ;in metal-to-metal'contact with =rivet- 12,andi

fasteners 16. t a l 41- While specific embodiments of the invention have-,been

shown and described inrdetail to illustrate the applicat on of the invention principles, it will be understood that-the invention maybe embodied otherwise without departing fromsuch'p inc ple it 1. wh -isclaim di s I v 1,., A vehicle lamp comprisingin combination,-a,n;in-

' bracket is a metal member.

ground connection; a tubular metal rivet securing said interconnecting"saidfcylindrical socket member and said ground connection, said conductor extending through said rivet,- and integral cup-shape lens of plastic composition material; the outer end of said cup-shape base being formed with a seat for said lens, and'the rim of said lens having a tight, weatherproof snap fit in said seat.

2. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1 in which said seat comprises a radially outwardly-extending annular flange on-the rim of said cnp-shape,base.

3. Agvehicle lamp asclaimedinclam 1 1n whichsaid seat comprises a radially outwardly extending annular.

flange on the rim of said cup-shaped base having ,aninturned n'b on its outer end, and said lens has a radially extending flange ,on its rim engageable beneath saidrib. 4. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1 in which-said 5. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 1 in which said bracket is molded of relatively rigid plasticcomposition material; and said ground connection comprises a metallic circuit printed on said bracket;

6. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim ;1 inwhich said lens has ribs formed on its inner-surface.

tegral cup-shape base of plastic composition material' havr ing atleast someelasticity, and formed internally-at its closed inne end wi h a i a u w y x ending tubular bos th ba e to 1c0 f ming y cei e tubular lamp socket, and with radial reinforcing webs ex- References Ci d in the filelofi ii 'nate UNITED STATES PATENT-SH 1,493,988, Kerwin -May 13, 1924 1,595,047 I Monson Aug. 3, 1926 1,9 9,551; Somervell Mar. 6,1934

2,141,240 Dover Dec-27, 1938 2,298,154 Daehler ..1 111 13 16, 1940 2,702,340 Thieblot f. Feb. 1 5, 1-955 

